good they have been prepared. They commence with the little Hand Bill, and extend to a Commentary upon the Holy Scriptures, and even to a complete edition of the Bible itself. They include publications suitable for all classes of people, from the child of penury to the richest noble in the land. They afford instruction both to the theological student, and to the poor cottager who is seeking the way of salvation. In the works of the Reformers and Puritans, and in many other publications, there will be found" strong meat for them that are of full age;" in the numerous juvenile works, " milk for babes who are unskilful in the word of righteousness;" while in every production which is sent forth, "the Bread of Life" is presented to the poor and perishing sinner.

The cheapness of the works is worthy of notice. The subscriber obtains about forty-five pages of tracts for every penny. He can procure four children's tracts for one farthing, and Dr. Watts's Divine Songs for children, without abridgment, for less than one halfpenny. Many of the larger works are cheap in the same proportion. The volumes of the Puritan Divines, containing from 300 to 500 pages, are sold to subscribers for Is. 2d.; the Monthly Volume, 192 pages, for 41d.; and the four volumes of D'Aubigne's History in one volume for 4s. 6d. Several copyright books are necessarily higher in price. In effecting sales through the trade, all the usual allowances are made.

THE SOCIETY'S GREAT RULE.

In the preparation of the Society's works, it is the constant and invariable desire of the Committee, that every tract and book shall contain a clear statement of the method of a sinner's recovery from guilt and misery, by the atonement and grace of the Redeemer. So that, if a person were to read a

tract, even of the smallest size, and should never have an opportunity of seeing another, he might be plainly taught, that in order to salvation, he must be born again of the Holy Spirit, and justified by faith in the perfect obedience unto death of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

DOCTRINES PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY.

To prevent the possibility of any misunderstanding respecting the nature of the Society's works, the Committee feel it necessary to state, that they clearly and fully set forth the important truth, that "we are accounted righteous before God, only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ by faith, and not for our own works or deservings;" that being "justified freely, we are made the sons of God, by adoption; made like the image of his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ; we walk religiously in good works, and at length, by God's mercy, we attain to everlasting felicity." In publishing the truths of the Gospel, the Committee adhere to the Holy Scriptures as the only, but sufficient standard of faith. Their publications flow from this sacred fountain; and, the Committee hope, so far as it may be said of human productions, that they contain pure truth, uncontaminated with error, and undisturbed with human systems. In them will be found nothing of the shibboleth of a sect, nothing to recommend one denomination of Christians, or to throw odium on another; nothing of the acrimony of contending parties against those that differ from them, but only the great essential truths in which the followers of the Lamb are fully agreed, who are looking for the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

If it be necessary to give a more concise and particular description of the religious truths contained in the works which the Society adopts and distributes, the Committee would state,

that by pure truth, when not expressed in the words of Scripture, they refer to the evangelical principles of the Reformation, in which Luther, Calvin, and Cranmer were generally agreed, and to that system of doctrine, and of scriptural interpretation, which is set forth in "The Harmony of the Confessions of the Faith of the Christian and Reformed Churches," on all the subjects which are therein considered as "the chief points of our religion," and " the ground-work of faith." On this large portion of common ground, which the Churchman, the Dissenter, and the Foreigner, jointly occupy, they conceive that Christian union may be established and strengthened, Christian affection excited and cherished, and Christian zeal concentrated, and rendered proportionably effective. The common ground thus occupied by the Society for nearly fifty years, has enabled it to unite in its efforts" all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity;" nor has this union ever prevented the Committee from fully making known all the saving truths of the Gospel.

The works of the Society are only controversial when they support the fundamental truths of Holy Scripture, recognised in the standards which have been mentioned. These works fully and constantly maintain that "there is but one living and true God, the Maker and Preserver of all things both visible and invisible; and that in unity of this Godhead there are three Persons, of one substance, power, and eternity; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost." They set forth the Deity of Him, "who is the brightness of his Father's glory, and the express image of his person ;" and they make known to all, "the one God, and one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus." In reference to the publications of the Society on Romanism, the Committee feel it most important to state, that without reference to points of a secular or merely controversial nature, they consider the Luthers, the

Melancthons, the Tindals, the Cranmers, the Latimers, and the Bradfords, of former days, as their patterns in sound doctrine and active exertion.

UNION OF CHRISTIANS IN THE SOCIETY.

The proceedings of the Society, conducted on the principles of Christian union, have been extensively useful; and the Committee have reason to conclude, that such union has been in accordance with the spirit of the Redeemer's prayer for his disciples, "That they all may be one." Sincerely would they adopt the sentiments contained in the preface to "the Harmony of the Confessions of the Reformed Churches :"-" Let us not think much to take them for brethren whom God vouchsafeth to take for sons.-There hath scarce been any age which hath seen all churches following altogether one thing in all points, so as there hath not always been some difference either in doctrines, or in ceremonies, or in manners, and yet were not Christian Churches through the world therefore cut asunder. Let us not suffer the poison of discord to spread, but let us kill this hurtful serpent, that we, being by a friendly league united together in Christ, may vanquish all Anti-Christs, and may sing that hymn to the Lord our God:- Behold how good and joyful a thing it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!'"

APPROPRIATION OF SUBSCRIPTIONS, DONATIONS, etc.

In applying the funds contributed to the Society, care is taken to secure as wide and as promising a field of operation as can be attained. By the aid of Missionaries abroad, and disinterested friends at home, the gratuitous circulation is carried forward without any charge or expense for agents. By a carefully arranged system in the concerns of the Depository,

the sale of the publications is made to cover all the expenses of producing them, and of the necessary establishment of the Society. Thus the whole of the subscriptions, donations, and contributions, as already shown, are applied to the gratuitous circulation of its publications, without any deduction or charge whatever; and the favour with which the works have been received by the Christian public, has enabled the Committee, of late years, to distribute even larger sums than the amount thus received; so that the Society has rendered back to the public an amount exceeding in value what has been contributed to it. In this course the Committee trust the Society will be enabled to proceed, without risking its important and fundamental object of presenting a large and varied list of publications, at such prices as the public have a right to expect.

RELIGIOUS CIRCULATING LIBRARIES.

The Committee have made grants of 1,451 libraries, in some very necessitous cases, at one-half of the reduced prices, for destitute districts, containing good selections of books; satisfactory statements having been presented, showing the great need of such grants.

The Committee having found, from Parliamentary Returns, that out of 55,799 schools only 2,464 had Circulating Libraries, and that consequently more than 53,000 were without these important means of usefulness, have supplied 2,063 LIBRARIES, at half-price, to National, British, Parochial, Day, and Sunday Schools which were unable to pay the full amount. The information to be furnished on applying for School Librararies is stated in a circular letter, which may be obtained at the Depository.

One hundred volumes have been carefully selected for a